I am wondering if the clicking and swooshing sounds are always present for most TMJ sufferers. For me, I only hear the sounds after an initial 'click' and for the rest of the day there is swishshing. I wake up in the morning with no swishing sounds (from synovial fluid, undoubtedly), and I go through my day trying not to make my jaw crack, thinking that the swishing sound and cracking is a bad thing.

I'm in the very early stages of TMJ. There is no pain for me, except for slight headaches and muscle twitches, and minor tinnitus. Is the avoidance of swishing and clicking (if possible) a good thing? I know that many of you are in later stages of TMJ and may think my question is lame, but I'm just trying not to make this worse and avoid potential pain in the future. If I normally open and close my mouth, there is no clicking or swishing. Only if I exert extra pressure do the sounds occur.

Thanks for any possible advice.

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Sheldon